Former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah's case has been reopened

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has reopened investigations into former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah, following a fresh request from the agency's new leadership.

At a news conference in Accra on June 2, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng confirmed that EOCO had formally requested the case docket from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which subsequently forwarded a duplicate file to it on May 29, 2025.

In 2023, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) commenced investigations in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of monies and other valuable items involving Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her associates.

After nearly seven months of investigations, the OSP said it found no direct evidence of corruption connected to the seized funds or frozen bank accounts.

However, investigators identified strong indications of suspected money laundering and financial structuring, which fall outside the OSP’s legal mandate.

As a result, in January 2024, the OSP referred the case to EOCO, which is authorised to investigate such offences.

EOCO, however, returned the docket, citing the absence of a predicate offence necessary to pursue a money laundering case.

However, according to Agyebeng, by a letter dated May 14, 2025, the new leadership of EOCO requested the OSP to forward the docket back to it for a review and commencement of investigation.

He said under the cover of communication dated May 29, 2025, the OSP forwarded a duplicate docket of the case back to EOCO.

The OSP agreed to provide the docket, describing it as a valuable resource for EOCO to begin its own investigation.

“The OSP would lend its full collaborative support to EOCO in its review and investigation and probable further action,” Agyebeng indicated.

Cecillia Dapaah resigned from her ministerial position in July 2023 after public scrutiny over the unexplained cash and valuables found at her residence.

MRA/AE

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